Fairie Festival 2015

The Crazy Jones Women

It's almost May, which means it's almost Fairie Festival. I've been attending this festival for about 17 years. My Aunt Lynne used to be the matriarch of Wing makers. Since then she's retired and now runs the peppermint-lemon stand. Very popular and very tasty. Fairie Festival is tradition, every first weekend in May is automatically marked on the calendar. This will be the first year of me vending with a baby... well more like toddler now. I still call her the baby though. I probably will even when she's 30.

Most of what I'll be selling is at least 6 years old- leftovers to feel like I have product to sell. Although I did push myself to finish 4 paintings in time for the festival. I've been wanting to show another side to my artwork at this venue for the past few years. Finally I'll be able to hang some of my fine art pieces. My Mother, sister, sister-in-law and I have been vendors for five years now. I look forward to spring just so I can come home and spend the whole weekend outside wearing fun costumes and glitter with some of my most favorite people. Of course it's also fun to indulge in Lavender Ice Cream.

 We will be in the same area by the farm house. So come and enjoy the outdoors, music, food, artists, and of course the Lavender Ice Cream! Their Coffee Ice Cream is also pretty darn good.

Just for fun here are some Fairie Festival pictures from the past:

 My Adorable Older-Little Sister

Cousin's being forced to sell our work

 Butts...

Mom's knitted Mossy Hood and Shawl 

A Very Fairie Family 

This creep (I mean very talented piper) wearing one of my NightSquid shirts 

Me and my husband before we were married.

First he had to pass the Fairie Festival test. 

He bought my engagement ring that weekend

Josie's first time...

...and she LOVED it

2010

2011 

My Beautiful and very talented Mother

Besides waiting for the last minute to make sure I have new paintings for this festival I've been keeping busy with more pet portraits. 

I was asked to do a portrait of my friends cat who recently passed away. These are some of the hardest portraits to paint. I did cry a little- a few times- while making this. Although I didn't know Big Boy that well, knowing how much he made Kaitlin happy was enough for me to feel sad that he's gone. With the magic of his being I was able to capture his spirit in what's now one of my most favorite paintings. 

Here's my brother's dog, Freya. I'm so in love with her. She's an American Bulldog; tough as nails, squishy as a bean bag chair, and as strong as Arnold Schwarzenegger. I painted this on canvas board- which I haven't painting on in years. I feel this picture does not do the actual painting justice. However it still makes me want to smooch those bulldog lips. So I feel I've succeeded.

"Ashes". Another kitty who has passed away. His owner wanted a painting that showed his angel wing markings on his shoulders. This was a tricky painting to get right as the photo wasn't the best quality. I'm not quite good at making up what isn't there to be seen... yet. I hope to get there one day.

In The News

I haven't been to good about updating this blog the past few years. I could use the excuse that my computer is 10 years old and very slow, or that I have very little time and/or things to even write about, but we all know that I'm probably just lazy. So here I go- going to try and make a much better effort.

Now that I am a stay-at-home mother I intend to give a little more focus to my art career. It seems that in the past couple years I've found a niche in pet portraiture. Painting animals is incredibly gratifying, especially when they're someone you're close to. It started while I worked at Bow-Wow Doggie Daycare. On a slow day where the dogs would lay around cuddling and looking precious, I would do some sketching then display them in the lobby. From there it escalated into doing pencil drawings from photos. Clients began asking for portraits of their dogs. I was thrilled! Now here I am trying to push myself into the world of Pet Portraits. Today I finally renewed my domain name after letting it expire- in hindsight, don't let that happen...
starving artists can't really afford it. But I'm hoping it'll pay off. I'm really looking to collect myself and make more of a professional online presence.

nightsquidstudios.com 

A couple weeks ago I finished a commission for an assisted living home of their resident dog, Bear. An old client from the daycare center, who's dog I've drawn and painted, asked me to paint Bear to hang in the main lobby of the home. The director then proceeded to have an article written on the piece. They hope to submit it to some local papers *crosses fingers*. Here's the article posted on their website. 

Artist Rendering of Community Dog has Special meaning to Residents

Ever since I was a little girl all I wanted to be was a mother and an artist. Here I am 29 years old, I have a 1 year old and a very supportive husband who urges me to pursue my dream in art. I count myself very fortunate to having such a loving and supportive family. To this day my Mother continues to inspire me and teach me to be a better mother and artist. 

Here are some of my more recent works:

"Cats"
22"x42"

"Charlie"
10"x10" 

"Tyson"

20"x24" 

"Parker Bean"

20"x24"

 

"Parker Bean" and "Tyson" hanging in the lobby of Bow-Wow

"Bear"

16"x20"

Fairie Festival Jury Photos 2015

    In the past few years I've watched my style as an artist change and grow. Though always holding true to the mystical powers that guide my influence and motivation. I'm now focusing more on my painting skills, where I like to convey the energy of the animals I paint so the viewer can know their personality. For this years festival I will be displaying a small collection of wild animal paintings. Ones of bright, fantastic colors and grace.

JURY PHOTOS

Hand Mirrors $6

Screen printed shirts $10.00

Bottle Cap Buttons

Acrylic Paintings

(prices vary $50-$100)